Our View: Halloween means big bucks for retailers

You probably guessed that as you drive around town and see all the temporary Halloween stores that have been opened to accommodate those who think Oct. 31 is a great holiday.

And that's a lot of people. The National Retail Federation Halloween Spending Survey says nearly 158 million consumers will participate in Halloween activities. That's down a bit from last year's 170 million people.

Those 158 million consumers are expected to spend $2.6 billion on Halloween costumes for adults, children and pets. Total spending is expected to hit $6.9 billion.

That's a lot of candy, costumes and decorations, but it's about $1 billion less than last year. The survey says that 25 percent of people are spending less because of concerns about the economy. However, the NRF says Halloween spending has increased 54.7 percent since 2005.

Households are expected to spend $75.03 this Halloween, compared with $79.82 last year.

The survey tracks a variety of activities. Most people will hand out candy (72 percent), 47.5 percent will decorate their home and/or yard, 44.2 percent will carve a pumpkin, 31.7 percent will take their child trick-or-treating, 30.9 percent will attend or host a party and 20.3 percent will visit a haunted house.

That doesn't include folks who might want to go to the theater to see a scary movie or perhaps rent a horror flick DVD.

No Halloween editorial would be complete without a few safety tips. Stranger danger and poisoned candy have been overblown, but there are precautions that must be taken.

Twice as many children are killed by cars walking on Halloween evening than any other day of the year, Safe Kids USA says. Motorists need to be cautious as they drive down their streets to get home and pass out goodies.

If you don't plan on going door-to-door with your kids, make sure you sit down and review the rules. Children younger than 12 should be accompanied by an adult or responsible older children. They should walk on sidewalks, not in the street. Cross streets with caution and never try to outrun an approaching car.

Kids excited about getting to the next house need those reminders.

Costumes should be nonflammable and light and bright, able to be readily seen by drivers. Costumes should be short enough so children don't trip. Masks should not obscure vision and should be loose enough to allow normal breathing.

Although unintentional poisonings on Halloween are exceptionally rare, parents should follow the cardinal rule on treats: When in doubt, throw it out.

Homeowners and renters need to be cautious as well. Leave your porch light on so kids know you're participating. Don't overload your electrical outlets; be careful where you place your spooky candles; make sure doorways are safe so kids don't slip or trip.

Enough of that. It's the last minute, but you still have some time to buy a couple of bags of candy or add to your fake spiderweb collection before the kids show up at your door.

Have a happy Halloween.

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